Queen mulled exit after Diana's death!

The Queen considered stepping down in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in August 1997, according to a new film.

Entitled The Queen, the film by director Stephen Frears focuses on the week following Diana's death. It alleges that public anger towards the Royal Family left the Queen so shocked that she considered abdicating the throne.

In it, the Queen is walking with her mother in the gardens of her Scottish residence of Balmoral when she says: "When you no longer understand your people, maybe it's time to hand over to the next generation."

The Queen Mother counsels her not to, adding that she should not be taken in by "that silly Mr (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair with his Cheshire Cat grin".

The filmmakers insist the scene is the result of research.

The Queen is played by Dame Helen Mirren, while Blair is played by Michael Sheen. Prince Philip, the Queen's husband and the Duke of Edinburgh, is played by James Cromwell.

No actress plays the role of Princess Diana but she is instead featured in news and archive documentary footage.